Nepal Electricity Authority Seeks Proposals for Digital Bill Collection Services

Kathmandu. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has invited proposals from interested service providers to streamline and simplify the electricity bill collection process.

The NEA is seeking firms capable of facilitating bill payments through electronic channels. Applicants must provide proof of registration and renewal, along with a license from the Nepal Rastra Bank to operate as a payment service provider.

Furthermore, firms must submit tax clearance certificates for the previous fiscal year, articles of association, and bylaws. Requirements include a self-declaration of legal eligibility, a commitment to provide bank guarantees, assurance of service availability in remote areas, and guarantees regarding the security and confidentiality of NEA revenue data.

Service providers must ensure the timely deposit of collected funds into designated bank accounts and offer maximum convenience through various payment platforms. A minimum of five qualified technical personnel must be on staff.

Proposals must detail the operational scope, network reach, integration methods with NEA systems, and software specifications. The plan must also outline coordination procedures and security protocols for fund transfers.

According to the NEA, service providers must offer free processing for bills up to Rs 500. For payments between Rs 501 and Rs 5,000, a maximum fee of Rs 5 per transaction is permitted.

For payments between Rs 5,001 and Rs 10,000, the fee is capped at Rs 8, and for amounts exceeding Rs 10,000, the maximum fee is Rs 10. Successful bidders must sign an agreement within 15 days of notification and provide a bank guarantee of at least Rs 10 million from an 'A' class commercial bank, valid for one year.

Daily collections cannot exceed the value of the bank guarantee. The NEA will not pay any service fees to the providers. In the event of a dispute, a resolution committee chaired by a designated board member will be formed, including the Deputy Executive Director, the Director of the Legal Department, a representative from the service provider, and the Director of the Corporate Finance Department as member-secretary.